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It’s been nearly four years since Brandy released an album, and longer still since she changed the R&B game with her infectious tunes and soulful voice.

In the time since the former teen sensation came on the scene, things have drastically changed. Real saaangers are no longer the norm, replaced by club-heavy beats and pop stars who can barely hold a tune. But with a brand new look and the will to climb back to the top, Brandy is ready for the world again.

Recently, the 33-year-old R&B vet sat worn with YRB to talk about her new look, new sound, and fresh start.

Check out an excerpt:

On what fueled her new change:

“I think a lot of the struggles I’ve had are what I needed to go through to get to another place,” she says. “Everything is pretty sudden. One day I just woke up and I changed my mind about everything. I felt like I wasn’t fulfilled. I was acting simultaneously with singing as a kid, and I just felt like I have this talent, why am I not using it? Why am I not trying everything and doing everything I can do?”

On recording ‘Two Eleven,’ her new album:

“It’s taken a minute for me to really figure out the type of artist that I am, the type of music that I need to sing to reconnect with my audience. I just know with this album, I wanted it to be as honest and as real as possible,” she says. “Sometimes, you can get caught up in wanting to make hits and wanting to get on the radio and performing on everything that’s out there. I just wanted to stay true to who I was. That’s why it’s taken me so long to figure out the right home for me to put my music out there with. Other than that, I wanted my album to represent honesty and clarity and struggle and pain, as well as love, with a different sound and a different edge. That’s what this album is.”

On reuniting with Monica:

“I was so focused on my project and what I needed to do to get my music back out there, but when an idea like this comes along, this is more than just a song; it’s an event. It’s the reunion of two artists that made history together. It’s bigger than the song itself,” she says. “Of course I wanted to come out first on my own so I can stand on my own two feet, but who knew that this Monica thing would come along? I couldn’t say no to that. That would be stupid.”